686 
Tue Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales has 
written to the Press to say that he is prepared to 
undertake that the University will arrange that, in 
the case of students who entered the University in 
Ig11, the coming session shall not be reckoned as the 
last of the four years beyond which honours in the 
B.A. or B.Sc. degree cannot. be obtained, so that 
they may complete honours schemes in the session 
1915-16 under the same conditions under which they 
would have completed them in the coming’ session. 
He says it will be understood that, as pursuance of 
qualifying courses is essential for initial degrees, a 
year of absence cannot be reckoned as a year of the 
qualifying period; but, subject to this proviso, he has 
no doubt that the University will be anxious to con- 
sider cases of disability arising, other than the one 
above provided for, with the view of making special 
arrangements for their relief. 
THE former circular on geometry, issued five years 
ago by the Board of Education, has exercised a 
marked and unquestionably beneficial influence on 
elementary education. We do not know of any 
geometrical text-book, published since that date, which 
has not taken account of it, and we have frequently 
directed attention to it in these columns. That circular 
is now out of print, and the Board has, therefore, 
drawn up the present memorandum (Memor- 
andum on the Teaching of Geometry’ in 
Secondary Schools) which covers the same 
ground, slightly more elaborately. Now that it 
is generally recognised that Euclid’s postulates are 
far from being exhaustive, and that any philosophic- 
ally complete set involves abstract considerations, 
wholly unsuitable for immature minds, there seems 
to be a growing consensus of opinion in favour of widen- 
ing the basis of deduction, and including in it such 
spatial ideas as the ordinary boy (when he appreciates 
the significance of the statements made) regards as 
obvious. A proof which is not the cause of intellectual 
conviction, if only because belief exists independently, 
stands ipso facto condemned. The basis which has 
been suggested includes the fundamental properties of 
angles at a point, parallelism, and congruence. This 
provides a perfectly intelligible system of postulates 
and requires nothing which will present any difficulty 
to a boy who is capable of geometrical work of any 
kind, if the facts are presented to him in a satisfac- 
tory manner; and it enables him to proceed to apply 
deductive methods to the establishing of properties of 
which he realises the need of proof, thus arousing in 
him that interest which springs from a recognition of 
the utility of his work. 7 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
The Vaccination Question in the Light of Modern 
Experience. By Dr. C. K. Millard. Pp. *xvit244+ 
1o plates. (London: H. K. Lewis.) 6s. net. 
Suggestions for a Course in Climatology in Cor- 
relation with Geography. By W. E. Whitehouse. 
Pp. 31. (Aberystwyth: University College.) 1s. 
Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1913, including 
Migration. py BH.’ WV. Baxter and L.. J. Rintoul. 
Pp. 96. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd.) 1s. 6d. net. 
General Report on the Operations of the Survey of 
India during the Survey Year 1912-13. Pp. x+43+ 
maps. (Calcutta: Survey of India.) 35. ; 
Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. Vol. 
bi _Part 2: On the Geology and Coal Resources 
of Korea State, Central Provinces. Bv Dr. L. L. 
NO.92330. VOL. 931 $18 
NATURE 
[AUGUST 27, 1914 
Fermor. Pp. iv+148-245.. Vol. xlii. Part r: 
Burma Earthquakes of May, 1912. By J. C. Brawn. 
Pp. vit147. (Calcutta: Geological Survey of India; 
London: Kegan Paul and Co., Ltd.) 4s. each. 
Annals of the South African Museum. Vol. x.: 
Descriptions of New Species of Lepidoptera Heterocera 
in the South African Museum. By W. Warren. 
Pp. 467-510+2 plates. (London: West, Newman and 
Co.) Sos: 
Ninth Annual Report of the Meteorological Com- 
mittee, for the year ended March 31, 1914. Pp. 60. 
(London: Wyman and Sons, Ltd.) 4d. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
The Newer Education. By E. P. C. 659 
The ‘‘Conway” Manual. (J/7th Diagram.) ... . 660 
The Fossil Invertebratessea 7.2 eee 661 
Mathematical Text=Bo00kS = s-s-ineeeen 662 
Our Bookshelf . .. 330%s eee oe 663 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The First Description of a Kangaroo.—W. B. 
Alexander: ©: a). iow Pera. ka, alee el ae 664 
The ‘‘ Green Ray” at Sunset—Dr, R. C. T. Evans 664 
Treatment ‘of the. Wounded i). 1° oi). oe eee 665 
Natural History, Informal and Formal. (///ustrated.) 665 
The Total Solar Eclipse of August 21. ...... 667 
Alfred John Jukes-Browne, F.R.S. By J. W.J.. . 667 
Notes) 2 5. 2°83 Sis eee ee 668 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Comet 1913f(Delavan). (Wzth Chart) ...... 671 
The Marge Canadian) Redector. = = eee 671 
Rapid Convection in Stellar Atmospheres .... . 671 
A Novel Combination of Instruments ....... 671 
Fluctuations in the Yield of Sea Fisheries. By 
J Bige jausNs a wi Ee > ot Ga 672 
Studies of Tropical Diseases. By J. W. W.S.. . 673 
Solidification of Metals... «3-50-00 eee 674 
The Australian Meeting of the British Association-— 
Inaugural Address by Prof. William Bateson, 
M.A., F.R.S., President.—Part II.—Sydney . . 674 
Section B.—Chemistry.—Opening Address by Prof. 
William J. Pope, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., Presi- 
dent of the Section. (@dz:/ud¢d)))s--ee 681 
University and Educational Intelligence. ..... 685, 
Books) Received .\/. (saga) Wye gs oa ee 686 
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Editorial Communications to the Editor. 
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